Allied Golf Association of BC Update

With fall upon us, most golf courses in British Columbia are in the midst of the transition to off-season operations.  In a typical year, most facilities would also be deep into planning for 2021 but 2020 has been anything but typical, including preparations for an influx of snowbirds. Making heads or tails of the past season and predicting the level of play in 2021 is a challenging proposition and is something that will affect every member of the golf industry.

With uncertainty high, the AGA of BC has compiled resources to help analyze the 2020 season and aid with planning for 2021. Below are three resources that can help:

Features:

2020 Analysis and 2021 Impact: BC Golf Rounds Up 16.8% Increase Outpaces The National Average
Updated: COVID-19 Best Practice Manual and Resources for BC Golf Courses
Connect with Colleagues: Golf Industry Event Calendar

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BC Golf Rounds up 16.8% - Increase Outpaces The National Average

As statistics from the 2020 season come together, there is an air of cautious optimism. The case for a strong 2021 headlined by the fact that the number of rounds of golf played in BC have increased by 16.8% year-to-date. As is detailed in the latest post on the AGA of BC's website, British Columbia outperformed the national average and is on pace to beat 2019 in terms of total rounds played.

For more information about how golf round figures in BC and Canada compare to the United States, retail indicators, and the longer-term outlook for maintaining this summer's growth, we invite you to read our latest blog post:
Read the Full Blog Post Here

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Updated: COVID-19 Protection - Best Practices for the Responsible Operation of BC Golf Courses - October 9, 2020

In April, the Allied Golf Association of BC published a comprehensive COVID-19 Best Practices Guide. With over 2000 downloads, this resource has been an invaluable resource for many facilities.

Since publication, many health orders and guidelines have been modified, so the AGA has continued to update the best practice guide with new information as it comes available. The guide is available to aid with ongoing planning and safety and docuents can be downloaded directly from the Dedicated COVID-19 Best Practices page:
Download the Updated Best Practices Guide Here

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COVID-19 Resources for BC Golf

In the ever-changing COVID-19 era finding information specific to the British Columbia golf industry can be daunting. AGA-BC is maintaining a comprehensive list of resources on AGA-BC.org as new programs are introduced and new information becomes available. Be sure to bookmark the page and check back regularly.
Updated COVID-19 Resources for the BC Golf Industry

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Golf Industry Events Calendar

Another indication that the industry is getting back to a "new normal" is the announcement of upcoming events and the rescheduling of shows and meetings that had to be postponed.

Tradeshows and meetings continue to be virtual in the short-term, but events further in the future continue to assess the safety and effectiveness of hosting in-person events. While some events, like the WCTA Golf & Turf Industry Show, have made the difficult decision to postpone, there are still many opportunities to connect with colleagues and exchange best practices for the 2021 season.

The AGA has compiled a list of highlighted events and we encourage you to monitor updates as you plan your 2021 calendar:

Nov 16-18, 2020: BCGSA Professional Development Days
Nov 23-25, 2020: (Virtual) Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show, powered by the NGCOA
Jan 26-29, 2021: (Virtual) PGA Merchandise Show
Feb 27-28, 2021: Vancouver Golf Show (Scheduled for Tradex in Abbotsford)
Oct 2-5, 2021 Canadian Society of Club Managers Conference

We are here to support you and your business during these most difficult times.  We will maintain both our COVID-19 PROTECTION - BEST PRACTICES FOR THE RESPONSIBLE OPERATION OF BC GOLF COURSES manual and COVID-19 resources page on a regular basis, communicate information as it becomes available and continue to work with government and provincial authorities toward golf in British Columbia's continued success. If we can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely, 

Trevor Smith
President@AGA-BC.org

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About the Allied Golf Association - BC

Vision:
To unify the various golf sectors in British Columbia by providing one cohesive voice for the Golf Industry.

Mission:
To provide leadership, advocacy and a collaborative resource for the Golf Industry of British Columbia

The Allied Golf Association of British Columbia (AGA-BC) is a member of the National Allied Golf Association and unifies five provincial golf industry sector organizations (British Columbia Golf, British Columbia Golf Marketing Alliance, British Columbia Golf Superintendents Association, Canadian Society of Club Managers – BC, Western Canada Turf Grass Association) to provide one cohesive voice for the golf industry of British Columbia.